top of page
Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3
Empowering Women, Families, and Youth since 1999
Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate
Search


LeadHer Up and Cynthia Brian interviewed about Women's Empowerment
https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/leadher-up-and-female-empowerment/ Confidence doesn't just happen. It must be rebuilt after being bullied, criticized, excluded, or made to feel like you're not good enough. Radio host Kirpa Gill discusses the importance of empowering girls and maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit. She talks about the platform she created to do that, LeadHer Up, focusing on female empowerment, mental health awareness, confidence,

Cynthia Brian
23 hours ago1 min read


Sports, the Effects of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), ESPYs, and Hitting the Wall
https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/sports-and-the-effects-of-nil-name-image-and-likeness-espys-and-hitting-the-wall/ “Sports are a great place to show that equality can happen.”— Venus Williams NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), is the policy that allows collegiate athletes to make money through endorsements, sponsorships, and social media without losing their athletic eligibility. This has created a rippling effect throughout college sports. Host Julia How

Cynthia Brian
Aug 212 min read


The Privilege of Voting
MIRACLE MOMENTS® “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by human beings for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison people because they are different from others.” President Lyndon B. Johnson https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/the-right-to-vote? https://www.vapresspass.com/2026/08/20/your-vote-counts/ A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Cynthia Brian On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting R

Cynthia Brian
Aug 177 min read


Can the Courts Save Democracy?
“Where you see wrong, inequality, or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy.” – Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Courts are one of the most important institutions protecting American democracy, but if our entire strategy for preserving democracy is basically, “Hopefully the Supreme Court figures it out,” then we have a much bigger problem. Keerthi Eraniyan hosts an important informational program focused on maintaining a democratic c

Cynthia Brian
Aug 151 min read


Issues Facing Teens
https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/issues-facing-teens/ “Ignore those who tell you which way to go without first understanding where you are.” - James Pierce Teens are facing numerous challenges, and in this episode of Express Yourself!™ host Diya and reporter Allison are talking about the issues surrounding academics, friendships, family, social media, A.I., and more! In Allison’s segment, The New Classroom, she shares that the U.S. is home to upwards

Cynthia Brian
Aug 71 min read


August Gardening and Pampered Pets
Tune into the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs! It’s hot in our August gardens. What is growing? What is going on? Find out with Goddess gardener, Cynthia Brian, as we dig deeper into our summer landscapes. Today’s pets are critical members of our human families. More money than ever is being spent on gifts, ce

Cynthia Brian
Aug 61 min read


The Importance of Financial Literacy for Youth
https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/financial-literacy-1 "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." – Benjamin Franklin Were you taught about finances when you were a teen? The majority of schools don’t teach financial literacy, which is a critical skill for life success. Host Julia Howe interviews teen, Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan, who discusses how financial literacy, combined with early educational intervention and opportunity access, is the key individuals need t

Cynthia Brian
Aug 12 min read


What will the FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/what-will-the-future-look-like "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X Radio host Saanvi Phaneendra welcomes Express Yourself’s newest reporter, Allison Lu as they discuss what the future will look like. Saanvi talks about AI data centers in space in her segment Space Spotlight, while Allison discusses equality in educational systems in her segment, The New Classroom. Saanvi talks about the earliest chapter of what

Cynthia Brian
Jul 242 min read


To Tell the Truth
https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/truth-be-told MIRACLE MOMENT® “Truth is always the strongest argument.” Sophocles Share A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Cynthia Brian We are fortunate to live in a country where the First Amendment of the United States guarantees five fundamental freedoms. According to Congress.gov, this amendment of the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise

Cynthia Brian
Jul 226 min read


Learning to Negotiate
What is the difference between arguing and negotiating? Host Keerthi, (our Be the Star You Are!® queen of debate) interviews Ryan Chang about how teens can learn to negotiate to better approach problems and collaborate for the best results. Negotiation is a commonly misunderstood idea. Most believe it is a method to win. But in reality, it is a mutually beneficial compromise made to resolve a conflict. When people change their mindset, negotiation becomes a vital asset in eve

Cynthia Brian
Jul 181 min read


Savor Summer Seasonings
“Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James With the 250th birthday of our nation in 2026, many gardens are cloaked in red, white, and blue. A top garden design trend this year is patio culture, and with the semiquincentennial front of mind, I call it star-spangled living. Most Americans love being outdoors, and summertime is our sandbox. Whether our patio is in the front, back, or side

Cynthia Brian
Jul 144 min read


A.I. + Autonomous Tools and Debates
In this episode of Express Yourself!, host Hannah Sahota reflects on a Fourth of July trip to San Francisco that sparked a deeper conversation about the future of artificial intelligence. After witnessing the city's streets overwhelmed with traffic, she explores how autonomous vehicles are transforming transportation and what that means for society. From safety and public health to privacy, employment, and the future of public transit, Hannah examines the opportunities and ch

Cynthia Brian
Jul 101 min read


250 Years of the American Experiment
The 250th Anniversary of America “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”. President John F. Kennedy The 4th of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in America. This year, the USA celebrates 250 years of this American experiment in democracy. Join host Hannah and reporters Jatin and Milan as they share historical and personal perspectives on this semiquincentennial event. Can democracy survive? Teens weigh

Cynthia Brian
Jul 31 min read


Read, Lead, Succeed
MIRACLE MOMENT® “To be a leader, you must be a reader.” Cynthia Brian A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Cynthia Brian The ability to read is one of the most important and rewarding skills that a person can achieve. Since I grew up on a farm in a very rural area that didn’t offer pre-school, kindergarten, or activities for young children, I didn’t learn to read until I was seven years old in first grade. From my first understanding of letters and numbers, I was ho

Cynthia Brian
Jun 256 min read


Deep Fakes
“There's a danger in the internet and social media. The notion that information is enough, that more and more information is enough, that you don't have to think, you just have to get more information - gets very dangerous.” Edward de Bono Imagine receiving a video message from a celebrity, politician, or even a family member. They look real. They sound real. They seem completely authentic. But what if it never happened. That’s the reality of deepfakes. Join host Kirpa and

Cynthia Brian
Jun 221 min read


The Blooms of June
“What is a weed? A flower whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”~ Emerson Because of the late-season rains, the weeds have been overwhelming. I have been pulling, cutting, smothering, and eliminating “these flowers whose virtues have not yet been discovered” since early March. I’m now on my third round of weeding. Yes, many of the weeds have pretty flowers, including vetch, bindweed, cut leaf geranium, Italian thistle, euphorbia, hemlock, and a plethora of grasses. Dand

Cynthia Brian
Jun 144 min read


Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States
Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/the-womens-reproductive-rights-in-the-united-states “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” - Michelle Obama In this episode of Empowerment and Equality, host Hannah Sahota examines the state of women's reproductive rights in America and the social forces shaping the national debate. Through historical context, policy analysis, and thoughtful commentary, the program explores

Cynthia Brian
Jun 121 min read


The Importance of Free Speech
https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/the-importance-of-free-speech “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter” George Washington. Imagine if every time you wanted to say something, a tiny government elf popped up on your shoulder and said, “Hmm… approved… denied… or maybe rephrase that in a way that makes me emotionally comfortable.” Host, Keerthi, talks about the importance of free speech. With her naturally comedic f

Cynthia Brian
Jun 61 min read


Survival Conservation
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” · Robert Swan Why is conservation critical? Host Diya asks us to imagine life without clean water or wildlife. Conservation is one of our strongest defenses against climate change. Forests, oceans, and wetlands absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, helping regulate Earth’s temperature. The food we eat depends on healthy soil, clean water, pollinators like bees, and stable weather pa

Cynthia Brian
May 301 min read


The Imapct of Social Media
https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/the-impact-of-social-media On this episode of Express Yourself!, Hannah Sahota’s “Empowerment and Equality” segment explores the ever-changing relationship between social media, surveillance, and human dignity in the digital age. Using historical context, personal experience, political commentary, and social critique, the show traces the growth of social media from early internet communication systems to today’s hyperconnected platforms driven

Cynthia Brian
May 241 min read
bottom of page




